Chapter 5: Come Back to Me

A/N: Hey guys, this chappie is a bit short but it was really an experience to write something like this. Please R n R. Oh thanks for the reviews.

The massive gates of the hidden leaf village opened to reveal the form of the well-known blond shinobi. He proceeded to his apartment but before doing so he passed by the house of his friend and former team mate for a visit. "I'm sorry, Naruto. Sakura is on a mission. I think it'll be long before she comes back." Sakura's mother answered. "Is that so? Okay, well thanks anyways." Naruto replied as he walked miserably towards his apartment. As he entered his room, he sensed that someone had been cleaning it while he was away. Hinata went to all the trouble to clean my apartment? Maybe I should pay her a visit or something but I have to rest first. Naruto rationalized as he headed towards the shower discarding his clothing and everything else.

Even in the brief closing of his eyelids he still saw it. For how could he forget the memories that haunt him still? Ever since the final day that he saw her cry, it was as if her tears drowned his heart. For ever since that day, he was never the same. No longer the jolly, care-free, always smiling shinobi that everyone has grown fond of. Masking himself with a broken smile, he thought no one would ever notice the difference but he was wrong. No one would ever miss the expression of his eyes even when he smiles. Those sapphire eyes revealed what he wanted to stay hidden. But still everyone knew… he was shattered.

Sleep slowly claimed him as he lies in his bed. "Naruto, you bastard!" Sasuke shouted as he planted a fist in Naruto's face. "Why did you do that? I thought you loved her? That's why… That's why… I gave her to you. And this is what you do to her? How could you!" He continued as he kept on attacking him while Naruto kept dodging. "What the hell are you talking about, Sasuke?" he questioned as he returned his attacks. "You bastard! You dumped her didn't you? You dumped Sakura you heartless son of a bitch!" He cursed as he turned into a full fulcrum to kick his opponent's face. Upon hearing the cause of his friend's angst, Naruto stopped dead even though he knew that the phoenix kick Sasuke was about to deliver would certainly hit him right in his face. Seeing his opponent's response, Sasuke halted his attack in just about when his foot was inches away from Naruto's face. The intensity of the kick was shown why the sudden gust of wind Naruto received when his foot almost buried it self in his face.

"What about it?" He said almost coldly as his sapphire eyes met his ruby eyes that were wild with rage. "What about it? Naruto, how could you do that to her? I thought you loved her?" Sasuke replied incredulously. "Yeah, I do but she loves you. She can never see me as she sees you." He replied coolly. "You blind bastard!" the enraged shinobi again started to attack as he said "Can't you see the way she looks at you? Can't you tell by the way she talks to you? She loves you more than she loves me."

"I've had enough of this! Stop lying to me!" Naruto barked as he punched Sasuke in his midsection. "I've had enough… Can't you see I'm already broken from what I did? Don't make it any worse. I know for a fact that she doesn't look at me the way she looks at you. She doesn't talk to me the way she talks to you. She hates me!" Tears streamed down his cheeks and were drunk by the ground. Sasuke had a hard time to get up because of too much pain in his stomach but still he did. "Is that what you really see, Naruto? Or what you want to see?" Sasuke snapped. "Naruto, I could have been with her if I chose to because she told me that she loved me… and deep inside I wanted so much to hold her in my arms but then I knew that she was only confused because she loved me first. But I know that she loved you best that's why I rejected her because I know all too well that you deserve her better and she deserves you. But what did you do? You left her! If I knew this could've happened I shouldn't have let her go. I could have tolerated the fact that she loves you better instead of this. I can't believe you did that to her. Shattered? You should be. But don't just think about yourself. If you feel shattered what is she feeling now?" He said with difficulty as it was hard to talk long and breathe at the same time with his injury.

Naruto looked at Sasuke as realizations came flooding into his mind. The way she smiled at him, the way she talks to him, the way she understands him. More tears came when his final realization entered his mind. She was gone. He left the person he valued more than his life. And she would never return.

Hinata entered Naruto's apartment using the key he lent her knowing his return. She sat by his bed making no noise as not to disturb his love. Staring into his whiskered face, he looked so handsome. Then… "I love you. I'm so sorry for not realizing it sooner." Naruto blurted out as he sleeps. Hinata blushed thinking it was her he was dreaming about. "Naruto" she said as she caressed his face. "I didn't mean it. I love you before and until now. Come back to me… Sakura-chan." Naruto continued. Upon hearing this Hinata's caressing stopped and as tears formed and flowed down Naruto's cheeks as was Hinata's. She suppressed her sobbing and kept her tears from falling but one tear fell on Naruto's cheeks. He stirred as he felt something dripped to his cheeks. Opening his eyes slowly, he found no one. He touched his cheeks to find them wet with his tears but something felt different. He thought as he touched the spot on his face where Hinata's tear fell.

Hinata ran out of Naruto's apartment heading towards the common bridge. She leaned over the edge and looked at her reflection below as tears kept rippling the water below. After all this time, he still loves her. Despite me being there for him, he still wants her. Although he smiles at me he still thinks of her. When he said he loved me… did he really mean it to be me? She pitied herself as she cried till she could no more. She felt betrayed by the person he trusted the most and regardless of what she heard she could find no reason to hate him. In the face of his revelations, she still loves him. I don't care if he loves her more than he loves me. The important thing is that he is with me right now. And time will come maybe not now that he will notice me for the person that I am. I'll stay with him until I feel he needs me no longer because I love him…I'll wait. Hinata swore to herself as she can't help the tears that kept pouring out of her already aching eyes.

Then hatred started to form in her innocent heart, she started to feel immeasurable anger towards the person who captured the heart of the one she loved the most. A debate played in her mind. This was all her fault. It was her fault that Naruto cannot love me. It was her fault from the very beginning… but what is her fault? Being smart and caring? Having pink hair and emerald-green eyes? Being sweet and simple? What... I can't hate her because she's still my friend. It was no one's fault that somebody fell deeply in love with somebody. No one's to be blamed but me. Sakura never intended to let Naruto fall head over heels over her. Sakura is just being herself and Naruto was just being himself as well because that's who they are. No one's to be blamed. When that understanding came to her, she tried to hold back her tears to see her reflection on the stream below. Hinata clenched her fist so hard that it bled. The crimson liquid mixed with the transparent one below and slowly disappeared. The pain reminded her that she was still alive and to divert her attention to the intensely spreading ache in her body that grew in her heart. Nothing will ever be the same again.

A/N: Hey guys, I'm really sorry for the long delay. It's been quite a ruckus here so time is really unavailable for me before but I'm back. Hope you'll enjoy.